Motor-vehicle.



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Y J.. 1) HARP. i

MoToR VEHICLE.

PrLIoAT'Io'N FILED JULY 5. 1902'.

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Patented June 2, 1903.

PATENT OEEICE.`

JAMES y DAVID HARP', 'oFMoDEsTd CALIFORNIA.

',MoToR-vEl-HCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,579, dated June 2, 1903.

' I Application tiled J'nly 5,1902. lSerial No. 1145495.V (No modell) g To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AMES DAVID HARP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Modesto, in the county of Stanislaus and State of California, have inventeda new and Improved Motor-Vehicle, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.``

My invention relates cometer-vehicles, my object more particularlybeing to provide a turning-gear upon the axle towhichthepower is applied for the purpose of propelling the machine.v Y

Referenceis to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partpf this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate correspondin-g parts in al1 the figures.

Figure l is aside elevation showing my invention as applied to a motor-vehicle. Fig. 2 is a front elevationof the same, and Fig. 3 is a vertical centralsection through one of the front wheels. Y

The body 1 of the vehicle is mounted upon a subframe 2 substantially inthe usualmanner and is vprovidedwith rear wheels 3 3 and front wheels 4 and 5. A pair of revoluble stems 6 7 are provided with forks 8 9, whichV span the wheels'4 5., lthese forks being rsuplA ported upon'a cross-brace 13, provided with a bearing l2, throughwhich'passes a revolu k ble steering-post 10,-the lower end of which is mounted in'a bearing 11 upon the subframe resting upon the brackets 16 of the framework 17. The cross-brace 13 isrigidly; mounted upon vertical braces 1415, whichl are in turn supported by the subframe, to which their lower ends are secured. .Y

Upon the revoluble stems 6 7 are mounted cranks`20, provided with integral heads 18 19. The outer r free ends of the cranks 20 are connected with a cross-pitman 2l, the center of whichis pivotally secured to an arm 25, the ends being secured to the outer free ends of the cranks 2O by means of nuts 23 24.

The steering-post is provided with an arm 26, this arm being in turn provided witha handle 27,' the last-mentioned two elements' constituting a steering-lever of the ordinary type. The arrangement of the parts above described is such that a chauffeur by manipulating the handle 27 and thereby moving the arm 26 radially is enabled to rock each of the stems 6 7 to the right or left within certain limits, thereby causing the forks 8 9 to alter the respective planes of the wheels 4 and 5 relatively to the general position of the vehicle-body.

A sprocket wheel 28 is rigidly mounted onthe center of the revolving drivinglaxle, which in this instance is the front axle. A sprocket-chain 29 actuates the sprocket-wheel in the usual manner.

The revoluble driving-axle is a'composite structure, parts ofl which are ,iiexibly connected together,\ as hereinafter explained. The central longitudinal portion 30 of the driving-axle is mounted Withinbearings 31 32 and is free to revolvetherein when rotated by the sprocket-Wheel 28. Mounted rigidly upon the longitudinal member 30 is a globespindleV 33, provided with a set-screw 34 or equivalent device, whereby said globe-spindle is detaohably but rigidly secured upon the member 30, so as to be revoluble therewith.

Shortcylindrical spindles 35 constitute the end portions or members of the driving-axle. These-end vportions are connected, by means ofuniversal joints 36, with the central or middle member 30 and are revoluble therewith, butare freeto move radially-for the purpose ofenablingt-he wheels-to turn in planes independent of the general vertical plane of the vehicle.

Thev globe-spindles 33 are provided with mutilations 37 for enabling the end members 35 ofthe axle to move radially upon the universal joints'36. Each end member -35 is provided with a washer 39 and also with a slipkey 38, whereby it is firmly secured to the globe 43, and with a washer39. The lower ends of the forks 8 9 are provided, respectively, With annular bearings 40 47, the bearing 47 being considerably larger than the bearing 40. A nut 4lV is secured upon the extreme outer end of each of the end members 35.

The spokesof the wheel are shown at 42 and are mounted upon a globe-hub 43. A quartereglobe 44 is fitted into the globe-hub, as indicated in Fig. 3, and is secured in position by means of screws 45 46. The globehub has the general shape of a dome, as inindicated in Fig. 3, and with the quarterglobe 44 in position its interior is substantially spherical. The quarter-globe 44is pro- IOO vided with mutilations 49 for the purpose of allowing the globe-hub to move in divers radial directions over the globe-spindle 33. The large end of the dome-shaped globe-hub is provided with an annular channel 4S, within which rests the large annular` bearing 47. The springs 50 5l are of the usual pattern.

It will be noted that the globe-hub 43, provided with the quarter-globe 4:4, when tted upon the spindle 33 forms a type of ball-andsocket joint, which aside from the controlling action of the fork 8 or 9 allows the Wheel to turn in almost any plane desired. Normally the forks 8 9 are held in the position indicated in Figs. l and 2. By moving the handle 27 tothe right or left, however, the globehubs are turned accordingly, so that the position of each of the front wheels is changed into a different vertical plane. The weight of the front portion of the vehicle rests directly upon the middle section 30 of the driving-axle and is thence transferred, by means of the globespindles 33, directly into the plane passing through the respective centers of the front wheels. rlhere is therefore no tendency ofthe front axle to buckle, Whatever may be the position of the front wheels or whatever may be the degree of weight resting thereon. The ball-and-socket joint occupying the center of each of the front wheels is a turning device pure and simple.

`It does not aect the distribution of the steering-fork straddling Asaid wheel andprovided with separate bearings mounted respectively upon one of said longitudinal parts and upon said globe-hub, and means controllable at will for turning said fork.

2. A motor-vehicle comprising a frame, a revoluble axle consisting of a central longitudinal member provided with a sprocketwheel for communicating rotary motion thereto, longitudinal end members connected with said central member by means of universal joints, globe-spindles mounted rigidly upon said central member and partially incasing said universal joints, wheels provided with globe-hubs, said hubs being rigidly secured upon said end members and journaled upon said globe spindles, and forks pivotally mounted within said frame and journaled upon said end members and said globe-hubs.

3. A motor-vehicle, comprising a frame, a revoluble axle consisting of a central longitudinal member provided with a sprocket- Wheel for communicating rotary motion thereto, longitudinal end members connected with said central member by meansv of universal joints, globe-spindles mounted rigidly upon said central member, and partially incasing said universal joints, wheels provided with globe-hubs, each hub being surrounded by an annular bearing-channel and keyed directly upon one of said end members so as to form a rigid connection therewith, forks pivotally mounted upon said frame and provided with annular bearings for engaging said end members and said annular bearing-channels, and means controllable at will for rocking said forks and thereby steering the vehicle.

In testimony whereof l have signed my 'name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES DAVID HARP.

j Witnesses:

A. C. LANDER, J. F. CAMPBELL. 

